I paid $500 to upgrade from business to first class on British Airways. I was blown away by luxury perks like a private suite and massages.

Paul OswellFeb 26, 2024, 22:25 IST

I upgraded my British Airways ticket from business class to first class for $500 a few days before the trip.Paul Oswell

Before my trip from Sydney to London, I upgraded my British Airways ticket to first class for $500.
The 22-hour journey gave me access to VIP airport lounges and the airline's new first-class suites.

A few days before I was due to return to London from Sydney, I upgraded my $6,500 British Airways ticket from business class to first class for an additional $500.

I'd flown in the airline's economy and business class in the past, but never in its first class — or its new suites, which are only on select aircraft. So, I decided to treat myself.

It felt like an especially good value since the upgrade applied to both legs of the 22-hour journey: Sydney to Singapore, then Singapore to London. Had I paid full price, it could've cost me over $12,000.

Here's what my experience was like.

The upgrade meant I got to experience British Airways' new first-class suites, which have private doors, lie-flat seats, and in-flight entertainment.

The upgraded first-class suites have lie-flat beds and privacy doors.Paul Oswell

After checking in at the Sydney Airport, I headed to the Qantas International First Lounge.

The Qantas lounge is on level four of the airport.Paul Oswell

I was very impressed with the lounge and even got a complimentary 20-minute massage.

The treatment was short, but it was a relaxing way to start my 22-hour journey.Paul Oswell

The food in the lounge tasted like it came from a full-service restaurant.

I ordered a club sandwich before my first flight.Paul Oswell

I arrived at my first-class suite for the first leg: a nine-hour flight from Sydney to Singapore.

The suite felt private and quiet inside.Paul Oswell

The first-class suite had plenty of storage options.

Even though the space wasn't huge, it had plenty of nooks for storage.Paul Oswell

I received an amenity kit that came with a host of useful travel accessories.

These small amenities proved useful during the long flight.Paul Oswell

My suite had a table that I used to work on my laptop, read, and eat.

The inside of the suite never felt cramped, even when I had all my items out.Paul Oswell

I could control the TV screen in my suite using a remote or touchscreen buttons.

I could track the plane's progress to Singapore on an interactive map.Paul Oswell

First-class passengers had access to free WiFi throughout the flight, but I didn't really use it.

The screen was large enough for me to comfortably watch movies and TV.Paul Oswell

One of the crew members brought me canapés with salmon, prosciutto, and avocado salad.

I started my dinner with canapés shortly after the plane took off.Paul Oswell

About an hour before we landed in Singapore, the crew served first-class passengers a light meal.

I ate the pie with chicken and mushrooms inside.Paul Oswell

The first leg in first class was much more comfortable than my journey to Australia in business class.

I flew to Australia in business class, so I was able to compare the two cabins.Paul Oswell

The plane refueled at the Singapore Changi Airport, where I waited in a VIP lounge.

Passengers in first class and business class had access to this lounge.Paul Oswell

After getting back on the plane for the final leg, I ordered a king prawn as my lunch appetizer.

Every meal I had during this journey was delicious, and I was never hungry.Paul Oswell

For my main course, I selected a pan-fried snapper filet.

My lunch entrée was this pan-fried snapper.Paul Oswell

The crew transformed my seat into a bed, and I had no trouble falling asleep.

The bed was large enough for me to stretch out on.Paul Oswell

When I woke up, we were approaching London, but I still had time to enjoy an English breakfast.

Breakfast was my final meal on the plane.Paul Oswell

We arrived at Heathrow on time, and before I left the airport, I headed to the VIP lounge to sip coffee and read the newspaper.

I spent some time in the VIP area of the lounge.Paul Oswell

British Airways' first-class cabin is more luxurious than its business-class section, but I'm not sure I'd pay the full price to experience it again.

The upgrade was worth $500, but I probably wouldn't spend thousands on a first-class seat in the future.Paul Oswell

I stayed at the Regent Hong Kong, a 5-star waterfront hotel where rooms start at $600 a night

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